No, Natalie's not with my boy
March 28, 2008
While it's almost certain Sir Richard Branson
has passed on his larrikin charm and boyish antics to his 23-year-old son Sam,
they are yet to win the heart of Aussie beauty Natalie Imbruglia.
The Virgin tycoon would have been proud as punch to welcome Imbruglia into the
family, but in an exclusive interview with Confidential yesterday,
Branson Sr poured cold water on hot rumours that his son was romancing the
singer, who split from rocker husband Daniel
Johns in January. Branson Jr usurped his famous father in the headlines
last month when the British tabloids breathlessly announced Sam had been "seen
canoodling" the newly single singer, 33, at a lavish bash held at London's
Kensington Gardens to celebrate the launch of his Arctic expedition. While his
son was hardly Torn over the sensational reports - any lad, Virgin or
otherwise, would surely be thrilled with the prospect of being linked to
Imbruglia - Branson announced the two were "just friends".
"Sam was very flattered to have his name attached
to hers but he actually already has a girlfriend," Branson said from his Sydney
hotel room.
"He's known Natalie since he was about 15, she's a close friend of the family,
but even if there was a temptation there he's safe in the Arctic for the next
while anyway.
"I saw Natalie last week and she was certainly smiling about the whole
situation."
The billionaire entrepreneur assembled 300 staff
from his local Virgin empire to discuss another topic close to his heart,
climate change, at the MCA last night. With some assistance from the
Al Gore-trained presenter
Tim "Rosso" Ross, of Nova's Merrick
and Rosso team, the duo addressed the pressing issue of global warming, with
Branson outlining Virgin's green ideas to tackle the growing problem.
news.com.au